Wessex Adventures

Biking & hiking

Nigel Parrish - MTB and outdoor instructor

Biking

MTB and Off Road instruction - Social guided rides, fitness and technique coaching, navigation and route planning for ALL off-road cyclists

Hiking

Guided walks and activities - Guided and seasonally themed walks & activities - Regular group walks for everyone

Hedgerow Safari

New for 2025 - dates available to book now...

Hedgerow Safari

Explore - Discover - Learn

Hedgerow Safari

A guided walking adventure with no particular aim but to discover what ever we see along the way!

This guided walk will explore the hedgerow and countryside tracks, paths and woodlands to see what we can see, hear and enjoy along the way.

I describe this as more of a 'bimble' rather than a walk because we will spend time looking and enjoying whatever plants, animals, animal tracks and sign, fungi, trees and views we encounter along the way. Routes are chosen to find the best the season has to offer and are flexible to take account of the days weather and pace of the group.

Every season you will discover something different, see something unexpected but always learn something new. You might see wild flower meadows, playful hare, rutting deer, animal tracks, ancient ruins, burial mounds, roman roads, bronze age hill forts and structures, majestic trees, bountiful hedgerows, learn some history and geography.

Those taking part will need to be able to walk up to 12/16km (max) on what might be muddy and uneven surfaces, depending on the time of year. The pace will be slow and easy to increase the chance to see some birds, animals and to enjoy the time outdoors. Stopping to look and going off on a discovery tangent is positively encouraged.

Book or reserve a place of a Hedgerow Safari TODAY...

February

  • 6th February* - Learn how to identify common animal tracks, trails and sign
  • 22nd February* - Learn how to identify common animal tracks, trails and sign

March

  • 6 March* - Signs of spring - Emerging plants, animals and birds getting active for spring
  • 22 March* - Signs of spring - Emerging plants, animals and birds getting active for spring

*A minimum of 3 people per safari will be required for the date to go ahead. Book and Nigel will contact you if he needs you to shift to another date

mlountain bike instructor demonstrates MTB skills and techniques

Navigation on your bike

Mountain bike navigation courses - One, two day and Bronze National Navigation Award Scheme courses - learn how to plan and navigate routes on your off road bike!

Nigel Parrish - MIAS Level 2 - Mountain Bike Leader & Instructor - National Navigation Award Scheme provider

Off road navigation courses - The only National Navigation Award Scheme provider in the south of England offering the Bronze Award Scheme by bike!

Learn how to plan and navigate your own off road routes using a map, compass alongside basic GPS/route mapping apps on your phone.

NNAS 'Bronze-by-bike' - complete the bronze National Navigation Award Scheme award on your off road bicycle! - The only NNAS provider in the south offering an off-road bronze award

Bronze NNAS training and assessment course. Suitable for absolute beginners with all maps and compass provided. You just need to bring a suitable bike!

On the bronze course you will learn:

How to use a map and compass together along with timing and measurement of distance and easy to recognise map features to plan and cycle routes on cycle tracks in the central New Forest or on public rights of way in other start locations.

Learn how to use a compass to orientate the map verify your direction of travel and to check features on the map match those on the ground.

With over 9 years experience delivering NNAS courses New Forest Navigation delivers the course content so that it is relevant to you and your outdoor activities. Check out the full course syllabus and what you will learn on the navigation by bike page.

Format of the course

  • Day one: Planning morning in a local community building - looking at maps and mapping features, route planning for cyclists, bike and rider ready check.
  • Day one afternoon out on the bikes learning and using new skills - you may also be given some planning homework for day two.
  • Day two: Whole day out - cycling around, navigating the route!

The Bronze National Navigation Award Scheme is a two day course that has an informal assessment element. All navigation maps and compasses supplied - you will be given a link to download a cycle computer app to your phone but can also use a GPS enabled device or cycle computer to measure distance travelled.

The easiest way to learn more about navaigtion by bikes courses is to head straight over to the navigation by bike page.

  • What you will learn on a Bronze National Navigation Award Scheme course

  • Difference between the courses - two day or bronze NNAS

  • What bike, how fit riders need to be and what clothing and equipment you need to bring

  • Course dates, locations, how many places left on each course

  • How to book and pay for a course

Very latest information...

Next few navigation by bike courses and latest information

  • 2 & 3 March - Bronze NNAS, one or two day course - you can pay a deposit to reserve a place
  • 14 & 15 March (midweek) - Bronze NNAS, one or two day course - email me for details
  • 16 & 17 March - Bronze NNAS, one or two day course - you can pay a deposit to reserve a place
  • 21 & 22 March (midweek) - Bronze NNAS, one or two day course - you can pay a deposit to reserve a place

Central New Forest - dates available for the entire year!

MIAS Level 2 - Mountain Bike Leader

Nigel Parrish - Guided rides, small group and one to one courses and instruction in all aspects off road riding - red and blue trails

MTB guide & instructor

Qualified and fully insured - Guiding, coaching/instruction, off-road cross country, blue and red trail centre routes

Bespoke & groups

1:1, 1:2 & small group off road navigation, cycle skills, coaching & instruction available -

MTB navigation

Bronze National Navigation Award Scheme 'on-your-bike' - Learn how to plan and navigate off-road routes

Navigation and route planning

The only National Navigation Award Scheme provider offering the Bronze award off road by bicycle!

person on a mountaion bike descends a technical path in woodland

Mountain biking

Guided off road mountain bike and skill and technique workshops - suitable for beginners and intermediate riders

Guided mountain bike rides

Fully guided 'turn up and ride' mountain bike rides, fun 'learning' rides with some technical sections to practice and perfect technique and two day area focussed rides.

Variety of rides suitable for off road beginners and intermediate riders looking for fun technical riding.

Rides start in a variety of locations in Dorset, Wiltshire and Hampshire and surrounding counties. A great fun mix classic cross country routes, technical ascents and descents, ancient drove roads and swooping chalk chalk tracks!

  • Regular guided rides - Hampshire, Dorset, Wiltshire and surrounding counties
  • Weekend area MTB rides - the best trails the area has to offer!
  • Skill and technique 'tuition' rides for beginners and more intermediate riders
  • All year riding - winter routes stitched together using better surfaced tracks
  • Bespoke guided rides for small groups, one to one and couples

All rides and courses can be delivered on a bespoke basis to small groups, couples and one to one.

2024 dates - More dates being added this week

Mountain bike skills and techniques workshops

Two day workshop for beginners that want to learn rider and mountain bike essentials to ride confidently and comfortable off road.

Learn what clothing, equipment a rider needs to bring, tools and how to use them, rider body position and how to ride confidently on natural trails features.

Beginners and those with some off road riding experience will learn how to ride proactively and confidently on ride natural trail features and to safely ride small drops, technical descents and ascents.

Workshops will cover

  • What clothing and equipment they need for a days riding

  • How to set up and make their MTB ride ready

  • What tools and equipment they need to carry out trails side repairs and how to use them

  • How to effectively, and safely use gears and brakes

  • Use a rider 'ready' position to respond to all trail conditions

  • Learn the skills and techniques to ride natural trail obstacles

Workshops will have a half day indoor session and then the rest of the time will be spend out on the trail, playing, learning and perfecting techniques. The workshop will be paced so everyone has time to learn new skills and practice them in a fun, supportive atmosphere.

Weekend area rides - two rides starting in same area. Book both days or a Saturday or Sunday ride only

  • 20 & 21 April - Badbury Rings - Exploring the variety the chase offers
  • 25 & 26 May - South Downs - Lots of hills and some technical riding

2024 Workshsop dates

  • 2 & 3 March - Martin - Families (13 plus years with parent/s)
  • 8 & 9 June - Martin - Families (13 plus years with parent/s)
  • 10 & 11 August - Martin - Families (13 plus years with parent/s)
two walkers on a guided walk in dorest woodland rest against a large tree rtunk

Guided walks and activities

A variety of fully guided walks and seasonally themed walks and activities in Dorset, Wiltshire, Hampshire, Cranbourne Chase and surrounding counties.

Midweek and weekend guided walks within a small group, with plenty of time to enjoy the countryside at a relaxed pace. Walks vary in length and pace so everyone can get out and enjoy a guided walk.

Two day 'area' focussed walks dates and midweek regular, fun and fitness walks dates are available to book now.

Seasonal guided walks and 'Walk & Learn' walks allow time to discover, absorb and appreciate some of the best that 'Wessex' has to offer.

Walk and Learn

Take a walk with Wessex Adventures and learn a new skill and gain some knowledge along the way.

  • Ever wanted to learn something about animal tracks and sign?

  • Curious about seasonal plants and flowers?

  • Want to start to use natural navigation techniques while out and about?

  • Want to learn a bit about the lumps, bumps and ancient features of the landscape?

Each 'Walk and Learn' is themed and the distance and pace allows time to look, discuss and learn. These walks are great for those that want to spend time looking and learning, appreciating the landscape, nature and wildlife around them.

**Walk dates - midweek and other weekend dates

  • more dates being added this week!
  • available to hire on a bespoke basis for full and half day walks
  • Obscurenigelwessex if you want more information

**Now taking bookings for walk weekends - you can book 2024 walk dates now with a deposit to reserve your place.

Walk weekends - two days of walking in one area

  • 23 & 24 March - Signs of spring - Cranbourne Chase area
  • 13 & 14 April - Spring greens and hedgerows - Cranbourne Chase area
  • 25 & 26 May - A couple of leg stretchers - South Downs (western end)

Book for one or both days - £35 for one walk or £65 for two walks (per person)

Start locations

Mountain bike instruction, MTB guided rides, guided walks and NNAS courses start in the New Forest, Hampshire, Dorset, Wiltshire, South Downs and occasionally the surrounding counties of Sussex, Surrey, Somerset and also South Wales. Blue and red route bike park skills can be taught at Queen Elizabeth Country Park (Hampshire). Many of the MTB rides, guided walks and courses are accessible by car from London, Bristol and Swindon.

Navigation courses - Map and compass on foot! - New Forest Navigation

Wessex Adventures - Nigel Parrish - ©2023